Photo: Courtesy Whitney Bliesner
Jill Noe is giving her twin sister the gift of a lifetime.
The former Arizona State University basketball star, 34, is currentlypregnant with twins, serving as a surrogate for her fraternal twin sister Whitney Bliesner, for whom a pregnancy would be too risky.
According to an interview the Portland, Oregon-based sisters gave toToday, Bliesner has Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), whichMayo Clinicdefines as “a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue … anywhere in your nervous system, including your brain, spinal cord and nerves.”
“She’s always wanted to be a mom and her disease has already taken so much from her,” Roe toldTodayof her inspiration behind the generous gesture. “I wasn’t going to allow (NF2) to take this opportunity from her, too. She’s my best friend and I know shewould have done the same for me.”
“I really didn’t put much thought into becoming a surrogate at all,” she added. “It just felt like the right thing to do. Our family is so strong and so supportive of one another, especially since Whit’s diagnosis in 8th grade.”
Whitney Bliesner, Jill Noe and Pete Bliesner.Courtesy Whitney Bliesner
Whitney Bliesner’s twins’ ultrasound.Courtesy Whitney Bliesner
Jill Noe and Whitney Bliesner.Courtesy Whitney Bliesner
Bliesner couldn’t be more thankful, and is excited her daughter and son on the way — whom she and husband Pete plan to name Rhenley and Rhett, due on June 6 — will be able to experience the special close relationship she and Jill have.
“I am excited about having twins because I am atwin and I know what kind of bondmy sister and I have so I wanted my kids to have that and go through life with a best friend they came into the world with just like me and Jill,” she toldToday.
“Jill has been amazing during this whole process,” Bliesner added. “She lets me ask her all these weird questions, lets me touch her stomach,and it’s just amazing becausethis is the closest I could get to actually having the babies inside me.”
Whitney Bliesner and Jill Noe as children (L) and now.Courtesy Whitney Bliesner
The pregnancy was successful after an initial failed in vitro fertilization round, and came about after Bliesner lost sight in her left eye in 2000. In 2004, she lost her hearing completely in her right ear and, seven years later, 40 percent of her hearing in her left ear, according to theColoradoan.
And Noe wants kids of her own, just not right away. As she toldToday, the “ultimate goal” is to become a mom “in two or three years so that my children can grow up with Whit’s” — so she’llconsider freezing her eggsfor now.
“I just tell people I’m the house, they’re paying rent, but it’s free of charge,” Noe joked to theColoradoan. “I told her, ‘Whitney, I’m only going to do this once for you so take as many eggs as you want and let’s see what we can do.’ “
source: people.com
